Which pairs of colors are considered complements of each other?

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that, when combined, cancel each other out by producing a grayscale color (white or black) or the spectrum's opposite hue. In the context of color theory, especially within the RGB or RYB color models, complementary colors are located opposite each other on the color wheel.

Red and green are a classic example of complementary colors. When combined, these colors create a neutral gray or white. Their opposite positions on the color wheel illustrate how they enhance one another when viewed side by side, creating a vibrant contrast.

In contrast, red and yellow, blue and green, and yellow and violet do not represent complementary pairs as defined in traditional color theory. Red and yellow are analogous colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel, enhancing the warmth of compositions. Blue and green also fall into the analogous category, as they share similar undertones. Yellow and violet, while closely related in the artist's color wheel, do not occupy opposing positions to each other and hence do not fulfill the criteria for complements as fully as red and green do.